Hard Knuckle (1988)

I wanted to but couldn't!

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It's true that this is no masterpiece, however, for a pool movie it is really something different and a good time. A post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland is the setting for the future in billiards. Who new pool would make it through the next stage of humanity? *just kidding* I enjoyed this movie enough to watch it twice. There are parts of this film that will make you realize just how bad they want to gamble. You got to love it when they play on the Knuckle Table. It has a small monolith style block in the middle of the table. If you knock over the block, you lose a knuckle off you hand. Yes, folks, billiards has "evolved" to risking life and, OK maybe just limb! We have a hero, Harry, who is a hustler striving to prove he is the best around. I'm not sure how a true hustler would want to be known as the best, but hey, it's the movies! His sidekick is his tiny (and I must say very cute) Chihuahua dog and he picks up a kid as his betting manager. It the future it seems you have to have a manager or agent, in order to gamble pool with the big boys! The plot is Harry's desire to play this guy called Top-Dog. Although he is not allowed to just play him. He must play up through the ranks (kind of like boxing) and he has to have enough cash to even compete. Through all the hustles, bar fights, and (yes) even a little (and I do mean "a little") romantic drama, Harry finds himself deciding on whether or not to take on a risk that he was never willing to take on before.

Yes, it could easily be classed as rubbish & yes even silly but do the actors have fun. I think so. No wonder, they got to listen to that wonderful slide guitar. It's just a mad & silly world inhabited by some interesting characters. If you can find it have a look, it's fun.

You can't beat Australian post apocalyptic films for sheer awfulness, and this one is king of the genre. It has a budget that would be laughed at by the Teletubbies, and the plot - my word the plot! Post apocalyptic future. Violence. Degradation. Suffering. Snooker. Yes, you heard me - snooker. This film is a post apocalyptic thriller about snooker! The mind boggles, it really does...